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While extracting applications on your computer using WinRAR, you may sometimes encounter The Archive Is Either In Unknown Format Or Damaged error. But why does this error occur? This article will provide you with information on the causes and some methods to fix this error during extraction.
1. Causes of The Archive Is Either In Unknown Format Or Damaged Error
The Archive Is Either In Unknown Format Or Damaged error is a common occurrence when extracting applications with WinRAR software on a Windows computer.
Possible reasons for this error include WinRAR software being faulty or outdated, unstable network causing file corruption during download, errors in the compression process, or corrupted file extensions. Additionally, outdated or virus-infected files could also trigger this error.
The Archive Is Either In Unknown Format Or Damaged Error During Extraction
To extract a file using WinRAR, you can right-click on the file you want to extract and perform one of the following actions:
- Choose Extract here if you want to extract the file to the current directory.
- Choose Extract files… to select the desired extraction path.
- Choose Extract to “file name” to create a folder named after the file and extract it there.
For detailed instructions, you can refer to the article:
- How to compress and extract files using WinRAR easily on your computer
2. Solutions to Fix The Archive Is Either In Unknown Format Or Damaged Error
Select Tools and choose Repair archive
Try downloading the compressed file again
During the download process, there may be issues causing the file to become corrupted and unable to extract. In such cases, try downloading the file again and attempt extraction once more to see if it works.
Move the compressed file to a different directory
In another scenario, if the file you downloaded is located in a directory where extraction is not allowed, such as the AppData folder on drive C, you should move the file to the Desktop before extracting it.
Modify the file extension format
If the file you downloaded from the Internet has an unsupported file extension format, you should change the file extension to ZIP, RAR, TAR, CAB, 7Z, etc., and then try extracting the file again to see if it works.
You can change the file extension format
Perform a virus scan on your computer
Another possible cause of this error could be a virus affecting the file, preventing you from opening it for extraction. To resolve this issue, install antivirus software on your computer to ensure that documents and files are not damaged by viruses.
It is advisable to use antivirus software
- Update to the latest version of WinRAR
Your current version of WinRAR may be causing the error 'The Archive Is Either In Unknown Format Or Damaged'. To prevent this, regularly check and update WinRAR to the latest version HERE.
- Reboot your computer
Additionally, software conflicts during operation may lead to various errors. To address this, you can reboot your computer and retry the file extraction process.
- Utilize the default Windows decompression tool
Note: This default decompression tool is available only on Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 versions.
+ Method 1: Extract files by dragging and dropping them into the desired folder as follows:
Step 1: Open the compressed file > Select all files within the compressed file.
Select all files within the compressed file
Step 2: Drag and drop into the folder where you want to save it.
Drag and drop into the folder
+ Method 2: Right-click on the compressed file > Click Extract All.
Click on Extract All
- Use an alternative third-party decompression tool
Additionally, you can opt for a different decompression tool instead of using WinRAR to extract files.
+ Z7Z7 is a free and fast data compression and decompression software for images, programs, folders, videos, audio, and games. Compressed files have low sizes, helping you save storage space.
To download the 7ZIP software to your computer, you can visit HERE.
You can find detailed installation and usage instructions for 7ZIP in the article:
- How to install and use 7zip file decompression software for free on your computer
Z7 is a fast data compression and decompression software
+ WinZIP
WinZip is a file decompression software capable of compressing large files quickly and securely, working with various file formats. Additionally, it integrates additional file protection algorithms and easily connects to Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and more.
You can visit HERE to download WinZIP to your computer.
WinZip is file decompression software capable of compressing large files
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